As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia gradually enters a phase of prolonged stalemate, the attention of Western countries to this conflict has diminished, especially due to the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the focus of the West has shifted. This shift has disappointed Ukraine, which has long been seen as the "darling" of the West, especially as Western military aid to Ukraine begins to slow and Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure on the battlefield. This pressure is not only manifested at the military level, but also leads to serious political ** in Ukraine.
Zelensky's former aide Arestovich has recently expressed strong dissatisfaction with the position of Western countries. He accused Western countries of "not with good intentions" on the Ukrainian issue, which led to a large number of Ukrainian servicemen. He referred to the talks between the two sides in Istanbul, Turkey, at the beginning of 2022 when the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out, and the Russian side proposed a ceasefire condition, that is, Ukraine will not join NATO. However, under the influence of then-British Prime Minister Johnson, Ukraine rejected the Russian proposal, which has allowed the conflict to continue to this day.
Arestovich's remarks reveal divisions within Ukraine over the strategy of the war. As one of the negotiators, he considered the terms of the armistice to be reasonable. But Kiev, under pressure from Western countries, chose to refuse to negotiate. This decision led to high costs in the aftermath, including up to 300,000 soldiers** and a severe economic recession.
The performance of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield has also been ridiculed by official Russia. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that since June, Ukraine has lost a large number of soldiers and military equipment during the period, but has not been able to achieve substantial results. This assessment reflects Russia's underestimation of the military operation in Ukraine.
The senior leaders of the Ukrainian army, including the "number one" of the army, Zaluzhny and Zelensky, have also begun to openly recognize the challenges of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield. They all said it would be difficult to break the current impasse unless more support was received. This attitude shows that Ukraine** and the military are pessimistic about the prospects for a future war.
Western countries' support for Ukraine, although very positive in the early days of the war, has begun to wane over time and as the war drags on. Ukraine is gradually finding itself playing the role of a victim rather than the main beneficiary of the West's anti-Russian strategy. Western military aid has failed to change Ukraine's situation on the battlefield, making Ukraine's position in the conflict even more vulnerable.
This war in Ukraine has exposed the role and limitations of Western countries in international conflicts. In the early days, Western countries provided a lot of military and political support to Ukraine, trying to counterbalance Russia through Ukraine. However, as the conflict dragged on and the problems of the West itself intensified, this support began to show its limits. Instead of bringing a decisive victory to Ukraine, Western aid has plunged Ukraine into a deeper predicament.
For Ukraine, the war has turned into a protracted war of attrition. With military aid decreasing and war losses increasing, Ukraine faces increasingly serious challenges. The internal crisis in Ukraine has been further exacerbated by internal divisions within Kyiv and pessimistic expectations about the prospects for war. Ukraine's top leadership began to openly express concerns about the outcome of the war, believing that Ukraine may not be able to withstand a protracted military confrontation.
Arestovich's remarks reflect disappointment within Kyiv with the tactics of Western countries and a reassessment of the costs of the war. His remarks show that the perception of the war within Ukraine is changing, from a staunch resistance at the beginning to a desire for a peaceful solution. This shift has put enormous pressure on Ukraine** to reconsider the costs and goals of the war.
Russia's ridicule of the military operation in Ukraine reflects the Russian side's assessment of the progress of the war. Russia believes that Ukraine has failed to effectively use Western military aid, and instead has led to a huge waste of military resources. This assessment by Russia further highlights Ukraine's plight on the battlefield.
Western countries' support for Ukraine is partly motivated by containment considerations against Russia. However, as the war dragged on and internal problems in Western countries accumulated, this support began to be questioned. Ukraine is gradually realizing that it is on the periphery of the West's anti-Russian strategy and cannot rely on Western support to achieve victory in the war.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine may face a major adjustment in its war strategy. As Western countries' support for Ukraine decreases and the cost of the war increases, Ukraine may have to seek a peaceful solution to avoid a greater national catastrophe. This could mean that Ukraine needs to engage in more substantive negotiations with Russia to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.